alabaster

UK: /ˈæləbɑːstə^r/ US: /ˈæləˌbæstɚ/ ,(al′ə bas′tər, -bä′stər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

al•a•bas•ter /ˈæləˌbæstɚ/   n. [uncountable]

1. Mineralogy a kind of white, chalklike gypsum substance used for ornaments and statues.

adj. Also, al•a•bas•trine/ˌæləˈbæstrɪn/.  

2. made of, or resembling, alabaster;
   smooth and white.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

al•a•bas•ter  (al′ə bas′tər, -bä′stər), n. 

1. a finely granular variety of gypsum, often white and translucent, used for ornamental objects or work, such as lamp bases, figurines, etc.
2. Also called Oriental alabaster. a variety of calcite, often banded, used or sold as alabaster.

adj. Also, al•a•bas•trine 

(al′ə•bas′trin). 
3. made of alabaster:
   an alabaster column.
4. resembling alabaster;
   smooth and white:
   her alabaster throat.

• Latin
• Middle French
• Greek alábastros; replacing Middle English alabastre
• Latin
• 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

alabaster / ˈæləˌbɑːstə -ˌbæstə/ noun

1. a fine-grained usually white, opaque, or translucent variety of gypsum used for statues, vases, etc
2. a variety of hard semitranslucent calcite, often banded like marble

adjective

1. of or resembling alabaster

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French alabastre, from Latin alabaster, from Greek alabastros

ˌalaˈbastrine adjective